"I should dislike to seem churlish," he answered slowly. "But I've had my nerves rubbed raw of late, and they haven't yet grown callous."
"You see, it's rather in my line," suggested Snowdon by way of preface, "to assay the minerals of character in men and to gauge the percentage of pay-dirt that lies in the lodes of their natures. So I've watched you, and if you care to have the results of my superficial research, I'm ready to report. No man knows himself until introduced to himself by another, because one can't see one's self at sufficient distance to gain perspective."
Spurrier smiled. "So you're like the announcer at a boxing match," he suggested. "You're ready to say, 'Plunger Spurrier, shake hands with Jack Spurrier--both members of this club.'"
"Precisely," assented Snowdon as naturally as though there had been no element of facetiousness in the suggestion. "And now in the first place, what do you mean to do with yourself?"
"I suppose you have thought of the possibilities open to a West Point man--as a soldier of fortune?"
"Yes," the answer was unenthusiastic. "Thought of them and discarded them."
The voice laughed and then spoke contemptuously.
"A man's sword belongs to his flag. It can no more be honorably hired out than a woman's love. I can see in either only a form of prostitution."
"Good!" exclaimed Snowdon heartily. "I couldn't have coached you to a better answer. Are you financially independent?"
"On the contrary, I have nothing. Until now there was my pay and----" He paused there but went on again with a dogged self-forcing. "I might as well confess that the gaming table has always left a balance on my side of the ledger."
"I haven't seen you playing since you came aboard."
"Good again--and that brings us to where I stop eliciting information about yourself and begin giving it. I had heard of your gambling exploits before I saw you. I found that you had that cold quality of nerve which a few gamblers have, fewer than are credited with it, by far! Incidentally, it's precisely the same quality that makes notable generals--and adroit diplomats--if they have the other qualities to support it. It's sublimated self-control and boldness. You were using it badly, but it was because you were seeking an outlet through the wrong channels. So I studied you, quite impersonally. Your situation on board wasn't easy or enviable. You knew that eyes followed you and tongues wagged about you with a morbid interest. You saw chatting groups fall abruptly silent when you approached them and officers you had once fraternized with look hurriedly elsewhere. In short, my young friend, you have faced an acid test of ordeal, and you have borne yourself with neither the defiance of braggadocio, nor the visible hint of flinching. If I were looking for a certain type of specialized ability, I should say you had qualified."